The United States becomes steadily more secular

Last updated on: November 3, 2015 at 10:23 am By Ryan Bell

In a follow up report released today, Pew Research Center reveals that the United States is becoming steadily less religious and more secular. Though Pew describes this report as generally revealing “a great deal of stability in the U.S. religious landscape,” there are also clear downward trends in religious affiliation and clear upward trends in secularization. The religious remain as religious as they ever were, which should be unsurprising. In the face of greater secularization it stands to reason that... Read more

An Open Letter to the President of Pacific Union College

Last updated on: October 27, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Ryan Bell

Dear Dr. Heather Knight, I was disappointed to learn this morning that I was dis-invited from the lecture I was to deliver to the Pacific Union College Psychology and Social Work students this Thursday for their Colloquium (PSYC/SOWK 394). As much as I would like to have heard this decision from you directly, it was nice to speak with Dr. Nancy Lecourt. As you may know, she was my English professor when I was a student at PUC in 1989.... Read more

Life After God Launch Party

Last updated on: October 27, 2015 at 12:45 pm By Ryan Bell

This fall Life After God is going on the road for its official launch. The main event will be a Launch Party on Saturday afternoon, November 21, at Sister Louise’s Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium (<– you’re going to want to click on that link) in Atlanta, Georgia. REGISTER NOW! Every year the American Academy of Religion and the Society for Biblical Literature meet together, somewhere in the country. This year is Atlanta and we’re getting in on the... Read more

Leniency or Amnesty for Victims of Campus Sexual Violence? The Role of Religion

Last updated on: September 24, 2015 at 7:42 pm By Ryan Bell

Schools around the country are struggling to address what some say is an epidemic of sexual violence. The U.S. Department of Education, members of both houses of Congress, and well as many academics and non-profit leaders, have been involved in crafting guidelines for college and universities to use in creating a safe environment on campus. This morning, the Southern Accent, student newspaper for Southern Adventist University, reported that the university has updated its sexual misconduct policy to further comply with... Read more

The religious life of Joe Biden

Last updated on: October 12, 2015 at 6:28 am By Ryan Bell

I can count on one hand the times that a politician has brought me to tears. This interview, which many of you will have no doubt already seen, is one. Vice President Joe Biden’s obviously genuine responses to Stephen Colbert’s very personal questions about the recent death of his son, Beau, and the loss of his first wife and their daughter was visceral and moving. What struck me most of all, however, is the way both men talked about their... Read more

Introducing Life After God

Last updated on: August 31, 2015 at 6:37 pm By Ryan Bell

What happens when you spend six months or a year or five years wondering about the existence of God and concluding that there is, at best, no compelling reason to believe? In particular, what happens when you experience this loss of faith after having been born into and continually immersed in religious life? In the midst of exploring arguments for and against the existence of God I very early on began asking a question which, in my case, is far... Read more

[VIDEO] The truth comes out…

Last updated on: August 16, 2015 at 7:38 pm By Ryan Bell

I tried to keep it a secret as long as possible, but this video just surfaced. The REAL origins of my Year Without God. Read more

Dark night of the soul or just empty space

Last updated on: August 10, 2015 at 9:51 pm By Ryan Bell

I had the opportunity to be on a radio show on Sunday afternoon entitled, “The Sitting Room with Kathy Chiero” (podcast below). I’ve been on dozens of radio shows and podcasts over the past 18 months, but the vast majority of them have been atheist, skeptic, and freethought shows. With maybe one exception, the Christian shows I’ve been on have either tricked me into a debate or peppered me with semi-hostile questions and accusations in an attempt to discredit me.... Read more

Intimations of Anti-Theism

Last updated on: July 10, 2015 at 10:53 am By Ryan Bell

I’m ambivalent about anti-theism. In general, I think believing in and appealing to invisible, supernatural agents is detrimental to human moral and intellectual development. My feelings about religion also vary, depending on the day, but one of the ways I would describe myself is anti-absolutist. Some things are absolutely detrimental, like drinking poison or stepping into moving traffic. These things are definitely not recommended under any circumstances. Religion is not that clear cut. For example, I appreciate the title of... Read more

The Story of God

Last updated on: June 11, 2015 at 2:56 pm By Ryan Bell

Variety announced today that Morgan Freeman will narrate a new TV series scheduled to air in 2016 on the National Geographic Channel, called “The Story of God.” From the story: “God is arguably the most important topic of our time,” said Lori McCreary, Freeman’s producing partner at Revelations Entertainment and an executive producer on the series. “National Geographic’s unprecedented inside access will allow us to explore the global mystery behind God and religion. With Morgan as our storyteller, we’re going... Read more